DRUKWHITELOTUSSCHOOL

At an altitude of 3,500 metres and only accessible for six months of the year, the Leh Valley in Ladakh is about as remote as it gets. Weve been designing and working with a trust charity since 1997 to create a place of cultural learning; a school for local children and each year we send young engineers to help and learn. This fundamentally sustainable centre has become a focal point of culture and communication for the whole region.

LADAKH PHOTOGRAPH BY CAROLINE SOHIE ARUP ASSOCIATES

DRUKWHITELOTUSSCHOOL
THESCHOOLSBACKGROUND
The Druk White Lotus School is an initiative of the Drukpa Trust, a UK registered charity under the patronage of the Dalai Lama. It opened in 2001 and now has over 650 pupils. The schools aim is to give children from this remote part of India a high-quality, modern education, whilst engaging with local cultures or traditions. This was our brief- to create a structure that would celebrate and enhance local values, while at the same time making the most of cutting-edge technology and construction methods from the West.

PHOTOGRAPH OF OPENING CEREMONY BY CAROLINE SOHIE ARUP ASSOCIATES

DRUKWHITELOTUSSCHOOL
MODERNSCHOOL,ANCIENTTRADITIONS
Designed to be built in stages, our plan for the school included teaching courtyards, dining hall and kitchen, computer and science labs, art studios, a medical clinic and accommodation for staff and pupils. Its all designed around the circular mandala form an ancient Indian symbol of wholeness and the ultimate model for organisation.

MODEL OF MASTERPLAN ARUP

ASSOCIATES

DRUKWHITELOTUSSCHOOL
SUSTAINABLEDESIGNINAHARSHENVIRONMENT
In a harsh, high altitude, desert environment where water is scarce, sustainability had to play a major part in our plans for the school from the very start. We created cutting-edge systems that pump water from melted snow to the site, both for drinking water and for irrigation. The schools toilets dont require water at all, and have state of the art passive technology to eliminate odours and turn waste into compost. Ladakh has hot summers and very cold winters, so we installed passive solar heating. Even in winter, energy from sunlight is stored and used to heat the school and accommodation.

SIX ORNAMETS OF NAROPA PHOTOGRAPH BY CAROLINE SOHIE ARUP ASSOCIATES

DRUKWHITELOTUSSCHOOL
SUSTAINABLEDESIGNINAHARSHENVIRONMENT
And because the region is at risk of earthquakes and mud slides, we built the school using a timber frame structure with timber robust connections and steel cross-bracing to make sure everyone stays safe. Unsurprisingly, its already had to dem onstrate its capabilities on more than one occasion!

AFTERMATH OF MUD SLIDE IN 2010 ARUP ASSOCIATES

<

1/2

>

STRUCTURE CONSTRUCTION DETAIL ARUP ASSOCIATES

PHOTOGRAPH OF PEMA KARPO LIBRARY ARUP ASSOCIATES

TIMBER CONSTRUCTION CHRISTIAN RICHTERS

DRUKWHITELOTUSSCHOOL
WHOLELIFESUSTAINABILITY
Beyond the obvious sustainable features, the schools design and construction focus on sustaining the cultures, traditions and experiences of the region. All the building materials for the school are sourced locally, providing important trade for the rural communities. And weve relied heavily on local expertise, tradesmen and building techniques throughout the project, learning lots to take back to the UK..

CONSTRUCTION PHOTOGRAPH CHRISTIAN RICHTERS

<

1/3

>

PHOTOGRAPH BY CAROLINE SOHIE ARUP ASSOCIATES

LOCAL RESOURCES CHRISTIAN RICHTERS

DRUKWHITELOTUSSCHOOL
ONGOING
For Arup Associates, the project has given us the chance to make a difference to a community farremoved from our own lives. Weve completed ten of the twelve stages, and will travel back each summer until the school is complete.

PHOTOGRAPH OF COMPLETED PEMA KARPO LIBRARY ARUP ASSOCIATES

<

1/6

>

OPENING CEREMONY ARUP ASSOCIATES

DRUKWHITELOTUSSCHOOL Client:TheDrukpaTrust Architecture:ArupAssociates Engineering:ArupAssociatesandArup CompletionDate:Finalphasedue2014

AWARDS
2009 BCSE Industry Awards, Winner of the Inspiring Design Award, International category 2009 Design for Asia Award, Grand Award 2009 World Architecture News, Shortlisted, Education Category 2005 Sinclair Knight Merz Award for Achievement in development 2003 BCCB Award for International Expertise 2002 World Architecture Awards: Best Green Building; Best Education Building; Best Asian Building